The Cape Wrath Trail is often referred to as Britain’s toughest long distance walk. Stretching approximately 230 miles (370 km) from the Highland hub of Fort William to the remote lighthouse of Cape Wrath, it is an unmarked and sometimes trailless route that passes through the wild and spectacular landscapes of northwestern Scotland. Due to the unpredictable weather and challenging terrain, it is a hike that is best suited to experienced ramblers who possess a good level of fitness, navigation skill, and a stoic disregard of having wet feet.
I hiked the Cape Wrath Trail in the summer of 2018. …
Glover wanted to use her The Island in My Backyard expedition to show people how readily accessible — and relatively cheap — such a journey can be for those who live here. No flights or ferries to go on this trip. She didn’t even have to get in a car.
“I just went out my front door and started walking.” …
… The Vancouver Island Trail — also known as the Spine Trail — is only 80 per cent complete, and even then “trail” can mean anything from a dead flat, three-metre-wide, groomed path to a never-trodden forest route only discernible by occasional markings on the trees.
Then there were the gaps where forging ahead meant bushwhacking down 45-degree slopes.
Glover planned meticulously, preparing dried food and figuring out routes that would allow her to camp close to water sources, but even then there’s nothing quite like the reality of forest so dense that it’s all but impossible to cover the 20 metres from tent to lake. …
She had some funding from the Alpine Club of Canada for this adventure.
The Vancouver Island Trail is a multi-use (foot, cycle, equestrian) non-motorized trail, that links communities and ecosystems along a 765 km long, north-south transect of Vancouver Island. It uses both new and existing trails and inactive and active logging roads. At the start of 2018, it is still a work in progress with approximately 86% of it now complete.
For more details on the history of the trail, the organization’s Mission and Vision statements, recent newsletters and trail progress, and to become involved, please visit our website: vispine.ca
Only five others—all men—have completed the thru-hiker’s Holy Grail in fewer than 365 days
The Triple Crown is often considered the pinnacle of the thru-hiking world. To complete the feat, a person must hike the 2,190-mile Appalachian, 2,650-mile Pacific Crest, and 3,100-mile Continental Divide trails …
But for a select few, there is an even more impressive Triple Crown to be had: Hiking all three trails in a single year, a challenge that’s dubbed the Calendar-Year Triple Crown …
Before this trip, she’d already Triple Crowned twice, setting the overall self-supported Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Pacific Crest Trail and the self-supported FKT for the Appalachian Trail. (A new FKT for the Appalachian Trail was set by Karel Sabbe in August, but Anderson still holds the women’s record.) After this season, Anderson is now the fastest woman to ever Triple Crown and the first woman to triple Triple Crown. …
In the era where Trump and his appointee Zinke are happy to sell off protected public lands, these proposals from Backpacker magazine might not seem modest to all.
Wyss Foundation is launching a $1 billion campaign, called the Wyss Campaign for Nature.
The campaign’s goal is to help conserve 30% of the planet in a natural state by the year 2030 by creating and expanding protected areas, establishing more ambitious international conservation targets, investing in science, and inspiring conservation action around the world.
Only by dramatically increasing the capacity of communities, indigenous peoples, and nations to conserve lands, waters, and wildlife can we hope to safeguard the natural world upon which we all depend. …
I’ve hiked many sections of the Himalaya, but never out of West Bengal.
The route of this trek lies along the border of India and Nepal. In fact, one constantly moves in and out of Nepal during the trek. The mighty mountains, of course, know no boundaries. They stretch through Nepal, India, Bhutan and further.
This trek can be done almost throughout the year save for monsoon months. …
I get this a lot. I solo hiked 20,100km on "The Great Trail" ITS NOT THE HIGHWAY ITS A TRAIL! It's 24,000km long & reaches all three of Canada's Oceans. In perspective I would have already hiked this proposed 20,777km road around the world New York to London pic.twitter.com/zNm9Ui6Zw6
I’ve twice been on the Annapurna Circuit. It has been degraded by road building. In fact, on the more recent trip I enjoyed mountain biking more than hiking.
The Annapurna Seven Passes … is a 20-day trek that takes a trekker through seven high passes, four of which are above 5,000 meters. In addition to the challenge of the high passes, this trek offers a mix of wilderness and culture that is missing from treks that run through villages. …
My friend in Cardiff told me bus tickets to Brecon Beacons National Park were free on weekends. That’s my price range.
Brecon is a quaint tourist town. Weather was perfect on a Saturday morning in October.
I fuelled up with a big Welsh brunch.
There are many trailheads. I opted to start at the most popular – Storey Arms.
It was very busy on this fine day.
At the top of Pen y Fan 886m (2907ft), I celebrated with Welsh Cakes.
From there I continued following whatever ridges looked interesting. You can see why they call it Hill Walking.
I planned to tent one night, they walk out back to Beacon next day.
I learned on the trail that — unlike England and Scotland — Wales has no ‘right to roam‘ law. I wasn’t allowed to legally tent on this public land. Gak.
I waited until dusk and set up in a discrete spot.
It was a perfect evening. A starry, starry night.
Clouds rolled in by morning. I packed up at first light.
I saw only one other tent.
Most of the national park is bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep.
It was an easy walkout through farmland back to town. I used Maps.me for navigation.
I do recommend Brecon Beacons to any hiker who visits Wales.
152 km / 95 miles east to west through the National Park, and passes many of the most important landmarks and mountain peaks in the mountain range. It also includes many of the towns in the park as well as popular attractions such as Carreg Cennen Castle near Llandeilo at the western end of the path. …
6-8 days are often recommended. Open moorland. Weather is often a challenge.
Sept 2015 Brecon Beacons Routemaster in Depth with Mark Rowe – images by Steve Morgan
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